Archive for the '2010 Nba Finals' Tag Under 'Lakers' Category

Tired? Lamar Odom went from playing an 82-game regular-season schedule, four rounds of playoffs, an emotional Game 7 victory against the Celtics in the NBA Finals to Team USA practices and a slate full of games overseas that spanned two weeks during the summer.

Exhausted? Odom played 22 minutes in nine FIBA World Championship games to help the United States win the gold medal for the first time in 16 years. He averaged 7.1 points and 7.7 rebounds in the tournament.

Weary? In three regular-season games so far this NBA season, Odom is averaging 16 points and 13.7 rebounds -- that's a double-double every game. And with the Lakers' next three games against Memphis on Tuesday, Sacramento on Wednesday and Toronto on Friday, that trend could continue.

While most would be ready for a nap, Odom says he's just getting started. He has prepared himself -- both mentally and physically -- for a run at a three-peat this season and doesn't forsee himself slowing down.

Phil Jackson said Odom "hasn't asked for any quarter, and we haven't given any. "In the situation we're in right now (thin frontline) we've had to use him. Hopefully we can limit some of his time, so it's not too intense for him."

There were touching moments, funny moments and a Ron Artest moment during Tuesday's championship ring ceremony before the Lakers game at Staples Center.

Each player received their 2009-10 championship rings from either Phil Jackson or a teammate, who shared a few poignant words and memories. For instance, Jackson first paid tribute to the four players from last season's NBA championship team who weren't there -- DJ Mbenga, Adam Morrison, Josh Powell and Jordan Farmar.

The Lakers coach then introduced Luke Walton, saying "People say Bill might be his dad, but Luke is my son" and gave the forward a heavily diamond encrusted ring. Walton then introduced Lamar Odom, calling one of the most versatile players on the team.

Odom, of course, got to give childhood buddy Ron Artest his ring -- his first --saying that "I want to let him know his family is proud of him," then reminded the Staples Center crowd how Artest appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live and took his clothes off."

Artest handed a ring to Andrew Bynum and Bynum gave one to "the best all-around big man in the league" Pau Gasol. Gasol gave a ring to Sasha Vujacic, who turned around and gave one to Shannon Brown.

When each Lakers player accepts his 2009-10 championship ring Tuesday night, they not only will receive a ring encrusted with 3 carats in diamonds, but a bit of history as well.

Each ring features more diamonds than last season's plus a piece of the ball from Game 7 of the NBA Finals. The Lakers defeated the Boston Celtics in a decisive game last season at Staples Center for the franchise's 16th title.

The Lakers will release an image of the ring at 7 p.m.

To commemorate the Lakers' 16 titles, the ring, designed by Jason of Beverly Hills, also features 16 oversized diamonds and 3-D images of the players' faces.

"They told me it has to be big, giant," said designer Jason Arasheben.

Doc Rivers has tried to put last season's Game 7 loss to the Lakers in the NBA Finals behind him. He's tried to forget it, not think about it, erase it from his memory.

Five months later, he continues to have nightmarish flashbacks to all those purple-and-gold streamers falling from the Staples Center rafters.

Even that dang TV commercial for a magazine keeps reminding him of how the Celtics lost the game, 83-79, and the championship to their storied rival in a decisive Game 7. Not that anyone here is feeling bad for him, though.

“I don't think that'll go away," Rivers said. "It's really interesting how often you think about it. Hell, they show the damn video (on TV) all the time so you can get a Sports Illustrated subscription. It drives me nuts. So many times, I walk away from the TV hating Sports Illustrated.

“I don't think that'll ever go away, don't think it should. We showed our team a little clip of the (Lakers) celebration on opening day of training camp. I was amazed how raw that still was with the players. I underestimated that. That was in a way good. That'll stick with you forever.''

Losing, especially a decisive game to a historical rival, can be difficult to forget. Celtics coach Doc Rivers is hoping his players never forget Boston's 83-79 defeat to the Lakers in Game 7 of the NBA Finals.

Rivers certainly hasn't and was reminded this past weekend as he drove past Staples Center as he took his son to a prep all-star game in Venice Beach.

“It still hurts the same,” Rivers said. “That won't go away. I had dinner with (Rajon) Rondo and ‘Baby' (Glen Davis) in Vegas and they were talking about how much it hurts. I said, ‘I hope it hurts you for the rest of your life. It should.' ”

Maybe Doc Rivers should've taken a few years off to watch his kids play. Hopefully, he still remembers their names.

The Boston Celtics coach, displaying either faulty or selective memory, told ESPN 980 in Washington, D.C., that the Lakers starting five has never beaten his starting five. Rivers cited the injury that prevented Celtics center Kendrick Perkins from playing in the decisive Game 7 this past NBA Finals.

“Our starting five against the Lakers starting five has a ring,” Rivers said. Well, not quite.

Great story line, except Doc apparently forgot about Andrew Bynum's knee injury and May 2008 surgery that prevented him from playing in the NBA playoffs that season, which culminated in Boston beating the Lakers in the NBA Finals.

Khloe Kardashian gave her hubby, Lamar Odom, an extravagant car for his role in the Lakers winning the NBA title. Odom was seen (no doubt with cameras rolling) tooling around in his new ride last weekend with his wife, kids and other Kardashian family members.

The white-on-white, fully loaded luxury car retails for $400,000.

Wonder what Odom will get from Khloe if Team USA wins the World Championships?

Some of the Lakers are back at the office Tuesday for exit interviews for the players to huddle with Lakers coach Phil Jackson and general manager Mitch Kupchak about offseason plans and last season's review.

All the players are coming in Tuesday except co-captains Derek Fisher and Kobe Bryant, who will have their exit interviews Wednesday.